Disc 2 (41:43): Love Sick, Thunder On The Mountain, Ballad Of A Thin Man, encore, Like A Rolling Stone, Jolene, band introduction, All Along The Watchtower

Bob Dylan’s show in Casper is among his first visit to big sky country in seven years after shows at the 70th Anniversary of the Sturgis Rally in South Dakota and in Billings Montana. This was his third visit to Casper (since 2000) and first at Mike Lansing Field.

Mike Lansing Field 2010 on Highway uses a very good stereo audience tape of his entire set that night. The label cues the spoken introduction, the cheering for the encore and Dylan’s band introduction separate from the songs.

Al Santos has an unusual lilt in his voice during the introduction, before the band hit the stage with “Rainy Day Women #12 & 35.” The most popular song to open his shows of late, they include a raucous jam session in the middle which evolves into the chords from the instrumental “Rumble.” A slower, more gentle “Lay, Lady Lay” follows in short order.

In general, the first half of the show follows the pattern of a rocking, fast-tempo song being followed by a slower ballad. And at every opportunity the audience sings along with Dylan. It reaches a cresecendo with “Just Like A Woman,” when the audience drown him out during the chorus.

A review of the show states that Dylan himself encouraged the crowd during the number, and every time the line “…just like a woman” came he would stop singing, give the audience a funny look and gave them a gesture saying “go ahead…sing.”

The vocal highlight of the night is “Love Sick.” At almost fifteen years old now, it is firmly in place among the all-time Dylan classics. Full of pathos and pain, his vocal performance in Casper is nothing short of mesmerizing and it turns out to be the highlight of the night.

Many songs have been used as the set closer over the years such as “Summer Days” and “Masters Of War,” but on the latest NET tours it’s been “Ballad Of A Thin Man.” It is an unusual choice because it lacks the dynamics of the others and relies less upon the band than upon the strengh of Dylan’s vocal chords on any given night.

Casper is given the standard three song encore set of “Like A Rolling Stone,” “Jolene” and “All Along The Watchtower.”

Like other Highway titles, Mike Lansing Field 2010 is pressed on professional grade CDR discs with paper labels. The inserts are printed on glossy photograph quality paper with pictures from the current tour. The show and sound quality are good enough to warrant a silver pressed release. But this isn’t bad for a CDR title.